The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-23
A WIDEMARGIN FORCHARGES
Fuel Gas for SchoOl-Houses Is Not Spe-
officially Rated in the Schedule.
A Councilman's Views as to the Reasons
of Delay in Amending the Ordinance,
Which All Companies Want Done.

| school board committee Entrusted with the ar
| rangement for natural gas in the school build
| ings. presents interesting question to tax
payers. for they must pay the fuel bill for these
houses. Il relates to the schedule of prices be-
cause it does not define explicitly the class in
which school buildings and rooms should be
placed. If they to be classed as halls natural
gas will the school board 81, 28l. during the
school year for 311 fires. IL they TO be
charged according to the rates fixed for offices
the will be only So, 926. The difference of
| So, 355 is of sufficient importance to make the
board anxious to have the ordinance amended
that school buildings be specifically
rated. and when Mr.. Greenstreet. of the
committee. approached Councilman Swain,
of the gas committee. having toe
question introduced at the last meeting of the
Council it was with the hope of securing speedy
action. the board does wish to pipe the
houses until it is known definitely what it will
be required to pay for the fuel It is supposed
that Mr.. Greenstreets COMMITTEES contemplated
having part of the connections made with the
Broad Ripple company. its lines would be in
a section of the city where there are several of
the largest school buildings By this companys
failing to get its request for right of way of
streets before the last meeting of the Council in
the proper form of ordinance instead of a
res olution. work of laying pipes is
sarily delayed, and unless a special meeting OF
the old Council is called, the matter cannot be
considered until the I'd of January, when the
new body meets. In the meantime the COM
pany is preparing its plat of streets. which will
probably be fled to-day.
Although the officers OF the Broad Ripple cor
poration somewhat guarded in their an
swers when questioned a willingness to
have the ordinance amended, it is understood
they will not object to certain changes. One Of
them, when asked by a councilman the other
day. as to the wishes of the company in this re-
spect, said, Il don't know bat what some
changes should De made" He proposed to go at
once and consult the officers of the Indianapolis
company tc what amendments would be ac-
ceptabe to all the companies. Il don't think
he did it," said the councilman, ''for we have
had intimation from any company that
changes ought to be made. However. that does
not alter my belief thai all the companies desire
amendments, but each is afraid to take
the lead IN urging them Tho Cap
ital City and Broad Ripple do not wish
to strain their relations with the trust, each
thinks it dispose OF its property to that cor
poration II was all prearra ged, / told
Gently by officer of the trust, for that cornpa-
ny to purchase the Broad Ripple plant. but an
influential director-one who had subscribed
$4,000 to the trust stock-streuuouslv objected
to a contamination of the purchase. He said he
did not want the trust TO buy any plants. but to
drill its own wells. lay it's own pipe, and supply
consumers from resources that would enable
the company TO meet the heaviest competitioD<
He did not favor giving the people
taste of gas. 1t seems, then, that any early
amendments contingent upon the CELEBRITY
with which the trust get its plant ready for
service, unless the Broad Ripple asks TO have
them made at But it is late for the
old gas committee of council to consider them.
Its usefulness has been exhausted. and what
the committee that is to succeed it will DO de-
ponds upon its personnel. The selection OF
that committee will give the Mayor more trouble
than all others, for those favorire nonintefs--
with the ordinance just now will no doubt
wish to have their friends in the Council take
Councilman Swain said yesterday that he had
been congratulated by of the trustees of the
trust for favorine report from the natural-gas
committee in regard TO the amendments. I'VE
could have reported favorahly this matter at
any time since the committee last met he CON
tinued. ''but the temper of the Council was such
that the report would have been rejected. L
have been abused so much that l determined l
would not call the committee together again IN
til other members of it requested do
At one time some weeks ago the committee
arranged for meeting. but the
afternoon the mem Der who few hours
lie bad changed his mind and 1t would be best
to postpone the meeting until the following
week. Nothing more was said about the matter.
and the committee has gone out of existence |
without doing anything. But trustee of the |
trust not only congratulated me, but said he IA
vored getting as into the city at once. He be- |
leved any reasonable and business-ike changes |
in the ordinance should be promptly made, for |
they would be good for all companes and in the |
interest of no particular He further said |
that he intended to bring the matter up the |
next meeting of the trusts trustees, as ne I
thought the ordinance as it now stood had inter-
fered with thestrust IN obtaining large and de-
sirabie contracts"
The trust compaEvs well. the Wood farm,
about three-quarters of a mile southwest of the
Wadde well, came IN yesterday. Colonel Lilly
says it is equal TO any we'll the Hamilton
county district, and that the company's four
completed wells-the Wadde Sohl Haverstick |
and Wood's-will give daily yield of 20, 600. 600
feet of gas. Eight others being drilled, and
it is expected all of them will be finished any
time between the Sth and 18th of January, IN
less the cold weather interferes with the work.
Natural Gas illumination.